SimplePractice Starter Plan: $49/Month
What You Get (and What Is Missing)
Starter is SimplePractice's entry-level plan at $49/month. It covers scheduling and basic documentation but lacks several features that most therapists in private practice need. Here is the honest breakdown.
SimplePractice Starter
$49
per month, billed monthly
Price increased from $29 in early 2025 (a 69% increase).
What Starter Includes
What Starter Does NOT Include
✗ Telehealth / video sessions
Added to Essential and above. Removed from Starter in 2022.
✗ Insurance billing and claims
Cannot file with insurance panels on Starter.
✗ Secure messaging
HIPAA-compliant in-platform client messaging is Essential-only.
✗ Treatment plans
Required for many insurance panels. Not on Starter.
✗ Custom appointment reminders
Only basic reminder emails on Starter.
✗ Analytics dashboard
No practice reporting on Starter.
✗ Client portal
Plus plan only.
✗ Group appointments
Plus plan only.
The Cost of Adding What You Need
If you try to make Starter work by adding external services, the savings disappear quickly:
| Scenario | Starter + extras | Essential instead |
|---|---|---|
| Need telehealth? Add Doxy.me ($35/mo) | $84/mo | $79/mo |
| Need HIPAA messaging? Add separate tool | $70-100+/mo | $79/mo |
| Need insurance billing? Use Office Ally separately | Free but manual, significant time cost | $79/mo + $0.25/claim |
Who Starter Is Actually Right For
Starter makes sense only if ALL of the following are true:
- ✓ You are 100% cash-pay with no insurance clients
- ✓ You see clients exclusively in-person (no telehealth)
- ✓ You already have a separate HIPAA-compliant video platform
- ✓ You do not need treatment plans (for clinical or insurance reasons)
- ✓ You have minimal admin needs and do not value the analytics dashboard
For 90% of licensed therapists in private practice in 2026, none of this applies. You need Essential.
Starter vs Essential: Head-to-Head
| Feature | Starter ($49/mo) | Essential ($79/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth | ✗ | ✓ |
| Insurance billing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure messaging | ✗ | ✓ |
| Treatment plans | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom reminders | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited clients | ✓ | ✓ |
| Progress notes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Superbills | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly cost | $49 | $79 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in SimplePractice Starter?
Starter includes scheduling, progress notes, superbills, calendar sync, mobile app access, and unlimited clients. It does not include telehealth, insurance billing, secure messaging, treatment plans, or an analytics dashboard.
Can you upgrade from Starter to Essential?
Yes. Go to Settings > Practice > Plan info > Change plan. Upgrades take effect immediately and you are billed a prorated amount for the remainder of the billing period.
Does SimplePractice Starter include a free trial?
Yes. All plans including Starter include a 30-day free trial with no credit card required.
Is Starter right for a new therapist starting out?
Only if you are exclusively cash-pay and in-person. Most new therapists starting private practice will need Essential to offer telehealth and accept insurance, both of which are standard in 2026. Starting on Starter and upgrading later is fine, but budget for the Essential price from the start.